Norse Myth: The Gifts to the Gods Quiz

Answer: Thor

With Thor, Sif gave birth to Thrud, goddess of storm and clouds and one of the Valkyries. Before her marriage to Thor, Sif was said to be wed to the Giant Orvandil, with whom she mothered a son named Ull, god of winter.

Answer: Dwarves

As mentioned previously, there is little distinction between dark elves and dwarves, and the two are generally accepted as one and the same.

Ivaldi, as well as fathering many skilled sons, also had Idun as his daughter. Idun married a god (Bragi) and became the keeper of the golden apples of Asgard. For more information please take my quiz, "Norse Myth: The Apples Of Idun".

Answer: It was made of gold

This is another example of the obsession with gold in Norse mythology. Perhaps the only figures who love gold more than the writers of the Norse myths are the dwarves they wrote about. Therefore, as well as being amongst the few beings that were capable of crafting hair as fine as Sif's, the sons of Ivaldi, as dwarves (or dark elves), also had plenty of gold from which to make it.

Whilst being malicious, Loki was usually represented as fiercely intelligent. His brains and Thor's brawn complimented each other perfectly and so the two often travelled together.

Answer: A ship

The ship was said to be flanked by strong shields and would experience calm winds whenever it set sail. Whilst being large enough to hold all the gods (both Aesir and Vanir), Skidbladnir could also be folded up and "carried in a wallet".

Answer: Odin

As well as being infallibly accurate, Grungnir was strong, as its shaft was made from the wood of Yggdrasil and its head from iron. The Sons of Ivaldi felt this would be a fitting gift for Odin, who was often viewed as a god of war and as having many enemies.

Answer: Eitri

Such as it is with Norse mythology, some accounts give Eitri's name as Sindri.

As Loki left with Sif's new hair, Skidbladnir, and Grungnir, he bragged to all about the unmatchable skill of the Sons of Ivaldi. On his way back to Asgard, he had the idea of stopping by another cave - that of Brokk and Eitri. Brokk did not take kindly to Loki's words, claiming that his brother Eitri was the finest craftsman. After a short exchange of words, Loki had talked Eitri into proving his brother's claims and thus providing him with three more gifts. Such a gesture upon his return would surely cause the gods to forgive him for shaving Sif's head.

Answer: His head

Whilst the Sons of Ivaldi were won round by promises of the friendship and favour of the gods, Brokk and Eitri were driven by the need to prove themselves as great craftsmen.

Perhaps if Brokk and Eitri were aware of the slippery Loki and how he "screwed" the giant mason who built the wall around Asgard, they would not have accepted this wager.

Instead, they gave Loki a horn of mead and allowed him to relax whilst they worked away on their three items.

Answer: An arm-ring

Gullinbursti was given to Frey. The boar with golden bristles would pull the chariot of the fertility god when he was not sailing aboard Skidbladnir.

Draupnir was to be given to Odin. Whilst Grungnir made Odin even more feared, Draupnir would provide him with wealth, as every ninth night, eight rings equal in size and value to Draupnir would fall from the original.

As Loki observed Brokk and Eitri at work, he began to fear that he would lose this wager, and so he transformed into a fly and continuously bit Brokk, whose job it was to blow on the fire in the furnace.

Answer: Its handle was too short

As Loki had taken the form of a fly, he continued to bite Brokk, with the intention of causing the fire to burn out. After Gullinbursti and Draupnir had been forged, Loki bit Brokk on the eyelid, causing blood to flow into his eye, thus blinding him. This meant that Mjolnir could not be completed and its handle was shorter than intended.

Nevertheless, both sets of brothers - the Sons of Ivaldi and Brokk and Eitri - had completed their three gifts. Whilst Loki would present the gifts from the Sons of Ivaldi in front of the gods, Brokk and Eirti would present their own.

Answer: His mouth was sewn up

It was agreed that Odin, Thor and Frey would decide which gift had the greatest value. Draupnir was seen as equal to Grungnir, and Gullinbursti was equal to Skidbladnir. However, Mjolnir was seen as even more important than the fine golden hair spun by the Sons of Ivaldi.

Loki had managed to slither his way out of the wager by stating that Brokk and Eitri could not take his head, as they had no claim to his neck. The brothers appealed to the gods, and Loki was restrained by Thor, and his mouth was sewn by Brokk. It is generally seen that this is the moment when Loki's mindset turned from mischievous to evil.